Ditch-forming machine



June 23', 1925.

L. O. SJOSTROM E IT AL DITCH FORMING MACHINE Filed May '7. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L.. o. sJosTRoM ET AL i June 23, 1925.

DITCH FORMING MACHINE Filed May '7. 1923 3 SheetsfSheet 3 Patented June 23, 1925.

l UNITED STATES 1,543,267 PATEN-:r ,o1-Fica LOUIS O. SJOSTROM ANDMYRON SPENCER,'OF MEYERS FALLS, WASHINGTON.

VDIIT(1H-FORMINGr MACHINE. y

Application filed May 7, 1923. Serial'N'o.; 637,248.

To all whom t may concern:

` Be it known thatwe, Louis O. SJos'rRoM and MYRON D. SPENCER, citizens bof the United States, residing at Meyers Falls, in the county of Stevens and State of Vashington, have invented a new andy useful Ditch-Forming Machine,fof which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ditch forming machines and more particularly to a ditch forming machine wherein the scooping elements work laterally of thevtrack on which the machine is positioned.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for receiving material from the scooping or digging element to carry the material to a point remote from the machine. f

, A stilllfurther objectvof-.the invention is to provide means for adjusting the material carrying elements tocause the same tovdek posit materialV at various'points.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear -as the description proceeds, the invention resides in 'the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter. described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit'of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the machine.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the mechanism for throwing the endless conveyor into and'out of operation.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view ofthe machine.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the body of the machine includes a pair of spaced side bars indicated at 5 to which the platform 6 is secured, trucks 7 being mounted at each end of the body portion to .support the body portion on the rails 8, it being understood that the wheels 9 operating on the rails 8, are mounted on the truck.y

Mounted on the platform Gare U-shaped bearing members 10 disposed adjacent to the side edges thereof, which bearing members accommodate the bearings 11 in which the shaft 12. operates, the ,bearings 11 being formed,v with curved. securing rings l13 to which the ends of the cable 14 are connected.r The diggingelements are supported on the outer ends of shaft 12, as clearly shown by Figure 2 of rthe drawings, each digging element'embodying a plurality of radiating arms l5 to which the scoops 16 are secured, the scoops ybeing of constructions to deliver material'inwardly towards ythe body portion of the machine. v-

fKeyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 12ata-point intermediatethe ends of the shaft, is asprocket .wheel17 over which the vchain. 18 operates, which chain also moves overthesprocket wheel 19 carried by shaft 20, vs o that `:movement of the shaft and sprocket wheel Y 19 Ais imparted to the sprocket W,-heel17A and shaft 12 to operate thedigging elements. l .Rotary movement is imparted to the shaft 20 by means vof thevgear 21.7which is also mounted on the shaft 20, the teeth of the gear21 beingr in mesh with the teeth of the pinion 22 operated by the vconnecting rod 23 of the-engine 24, Whichin the present showing. is operated by steam pressurefrom the boiler 25. Supported under the plat.- form 6 are the chutes 26 that lie in the path of travel of material deposited by the scoops 16. Operating under the inner ends of the chutes 26 are the endless conveyors 27 that move over kthe rollers 28 mounted on the shaft 29 that has its ends supported in the bearings 30. l

Shaft 29 also supports sprocket Wheel 30 that receives motion from the chain 31 operating over the sprocket 32 mounted on the shaft 33. This shaft 33 is adjustably sup- -ported in the elongated bearing 34 so that the same may be moved towards and away from the body portion of the machine.

Sprocket 35 is also mounted on shaft 33 and receives motion from the chain 18 that operates the digging elements. y Thus it will be seen that as the sprocket 35 is moved into and out of contact with the chain 18, the endless conveyors 27 are controlled to accomplish their purposes.

The reference character 36 indicates a rotatable support on which bearings 37 are positioned, which bearings accommodate shaft 38 over which the endless conveyor 39 operates.

The endless conveyor 39 also operates over the roller mounted at the free end of the boom 41 Which boom is designed to be moved laterally to direct material to the desired point of discharge.

A hopper 42 is supported at the innery end of the boom 41, Which hopper is designed to receive material from the endless conveyors 27 and direct the same to the endless conveyor 39, it being understood that the outer ends `of the conveyors 27 are disposed above the hopper 42, as at 43 the intermediate portions of the conveyors being held in proper spaced relation Witheach other, by means of the rollers 44 and 45.

The rollers 44 and 45 are supported by the brackets 46 and Contact With the upper surfaces of the endless conveyors at points adjacent to the side edges thereof so that the material deposited on the endless conveyor 27 may pass under the shafts supporting the rollers 44 and 45.

Supported on the platform 6 is a curved arm 47 Which has its free end disposed directly over the digging elements and 'provides a support for the pulleys 48 and 49, the pulley 48 accommodating the cable 50 which also operates over a pulley 51 from Where the cable passes over roller 52 and is Wound on the drum 53 loperated by the engine 54 controlled by a suitable means not shown. Clutch member 55 controls the movements of the drum 53. Since the pulley 51 has connection With the outer end of the boom 41, it is obvious that as the cabl-e 5.0 is Wound on the drum 53, the boom 41 maybe adjusted and moved to various positions to discharge the material falling on the endless conveyors supported by the boom. Pulley 57 has connection With the cable 14,

the pulley being provided with a housing formed with an eye 58 to which one end of the cable 59 is secured, the cable passing over roller 60 from Where the same passes to the drum 61 controlled by means of th-e clutch member 62. This cable 59, when Wound on its drum 61 will elevate the digging elements to move them to theirV inactive positions when it is desired to advance the machine.

In order that the endless conveyor 39 Will operate, a suitable engine not shown, may be supported on the rotatable support 3 6 and connected With the shaft 38, so that when the boom 41 is operated, the platform or support 36 will also move carrying the engine.

From the foregoing it will be seen that as the -digging elements are operated, material will be directed to the endless conveyor 27 and 39 Where they may be discharged.

What is claimed as new is In a ditch Aforming machine, a Wheel supported body, a curved arm extending up- Wardly from the body, a vertically adjustable shaft mounted on the body, digging elements carried by the shaft, means for rotating the digging elements, a cable having connection with the arm and having connection With the laxle for raising and lowering the digging elements, and means for transmitting movement to the aXlel lto rotate the digging elements; Y

n testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own, We have hereto afiXed our signatures.

LOUIS O. SJOSTROM. MYRON D. SPENCER. 

